I got rejected from Brown University in high school. It was one of my dream schools back then. Thankfully, life had other plans, and I'm forever grateful I ended up at my other dream school, UC Berkeley. But life has a funny way of circling back with plot twists. Over a decade later, I'm thrilled to be admitted to Brown University for my Master's! I joined the inaugural cohort of their Online Master's in Data Science: Policy, Governance & Society. I didn't think I'd get into such a small, competitive program, but I shot my shot. And I got in! I was very fortunate to be able to visit the Brown campus on my own dime for grad school orientation week. Brown clearly takes very good care of its community and students. I enjoyed attending multiple events, meeting fellow Brunonians, and exploring the gorgeous New England campus. Go Bears! Once a Cal Bear, always a Cal Bear. Now officially a Brown Bear too. Head-canoning Oski and Bruno being West Coast and East Coast brothers. read more

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First of all, Brown University has an absolutely GORGEOUS campus. Long, kind of funny story short, I stumbled upon this campus. I was exploring the area, literally, walking around taking in the beautiful scenery on a surprisingly "summer-like" fall day. And as I approached AND walked on the campus, I kept saying to myself, this has got to be a college campus... this is somebody's school. Lol! And just like that - BAM! I walked by a sign that said Brown University. My mouth dropped and I smiled big... chuckling at myself. Everything was so peaceful and well-manicured (as expected from an Ivy League school). I blended in as I perused the campus, people watching the students go about their day. I love architecture and the buildings are beautiful. It was such a pleasant time! read more

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While on our recent roadtrip along the East Coast of the USA, we made an unplanned excursion from NY to Rhode Island just to visit Brown University! Found parking near the bookstore, walked around the campus, saw their famous gate, bought a souvenir and left with an appreciation of the school and the chill vibes. Granted the trip was short but it was a nice day trip from NY. read more

As tourists, we so enjoyed waking around the Brown Campus on a nice day. The buildings were beautiful with detailed architecture. The campus is located in the heart of Providence, walking distance to many shops and restaurants. I'm sure it's a great school to go to. read more

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I cannot review Brown on its academic because I never took a class there. But if you evaluate the University on a beautiful campus it is first rate. read more

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We love Brown University, and hopefully it will be in our future the environment. The ambience and the education is fantastic.

Move-in Day Simmons Quad was full of incoming students and staff. Very happening! Beautiful campus. Close to many restaurant. If you are into Thai food, highly recommend Heng Thai, 2 min walk from Brown Bookstore. Dorm Amenities: 4/5 See pics: microwave, refrigerator, bed, desk, chair and walk in closet. My family and I enjoyed our experience of being here. My husband especially, he just loved the quaint feel of the campus. Lots of shaded areas to shield from the sun. That was a plus for him! read more

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Just passed thru some major universities.. Syracuse Yale And Brown. Beautiful campuses Be so great to be rich, have a scholarship or be really smart!!! I'm 0 for 3 read more

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When traveling, I love to tour college/university campuses. Brown is a beautiful university located in Providence. The historic buildings are incredibly gorgeous. The grounds are easy to get around and are full of trees and green spaces. read more

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In A Nutshell: -Brown University located in Providence has an awesome campus/neighborhood. -I really enjoyed walking around being surrounded by all the nature & historical buildings. -The atmosphere was lively w/ plenty of students walking around w/ smiles. -The location is close to the Brown Bookstore along w/ a plethora of shops, restaurants (some fine dining ones too like Persimmon & some ethnic ones like Aleppo Sweets). Overall, if you have a chance to attend college here, I suggest you pay a visit & you'll fall in love w/ Brown. read more

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Caveat: I don't got to Brown. My review is solely based on a visit to Brown campus as a tourist. I love visiting university campuses when on the road. Visited the Brown campus on an April Saturday morning. Looks like it was exam time and there were several students on the grounds engaged in a varied range of activities (studying, lounging, playing, celebrating birthdays, and protesting). Most notably, there was a huge Gaza protest camp in the main quadrangle where the protesters were peacefully engaged in their day-to-day routine. The only indication of the camp being that of protesters was the signage. Separately, the campus has several lawns and the architecture is typical of the Ivy League with a ton of Victorian influence. Lots of Instagram worthy spots. There are several restaurants around, particularly Mediterranean and Indian spots. Parking is tough to find. We found street parking a few blocks away across the street from Citizens bank for a nominal fee of $2 an hour. Parking pay booths are all broken and we had to download the pppark app. Couple of students around mentioned it's okay to park without paying but we wanted to abide by the law. The RISD museum and Providence Athaeneum is at a walking distance from campus. We also walked along Benefit Street and toward the government center but there isn't much to do that side. Giving four stars based on the overall vibe, building architecture, and things to do nearby. Visit if you're in Providence! read more

This review is based purely on a visit to the city and walk through of the campus. I don't know enough about the school or politics of the school to make judgements one way or another. That said, what a beautiful campus with some seriously pretty buildings and an awesome and very quiet and peaceful quad. I love visiting colleges and especially Ivy league schools (Doing pretty well on my visit them all list) and Brown fits the bill. The main gate was super cool and from what I've seen the campus is pretty big but well laid out and beautiful throughout. Cool place loved the visit! read more

Brown University - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

A friend and were visiting Providence and Newport for a weekend, and we decided we needed to at least briefly explore Brown's campus before we left Providence. It is a beautiful campus and exploring it is a reminder of the age of the university as well as the city! While it wasn't the highlight of our trip by any means, exploring Brown briefly was an interesting part of our trip, and I recommend it to anyone visiting Providence for the first time! read more

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Historical Institution // World Class Beautiful Buildings // Arts Community Came to visit a friend here. Had been to campus once before and to the RISD museum which was fantastic. Stopped by the gigantic sculpture of a blue teddy bear (must have been a nice tax credit) and watched a couple of kids who wanted nothing more than to be able to climb all over this untouchable toy. Had lunch down the street at a Korean restaurant. The train is close to campus, easy to get around using uber as well. The Scene: Historic, Smartie Destination Rating: 8 Date Rating: N/A Hob Nob Potential: 8 Strong Suggestion: Charge your battery, you'll want to take photos. read more

Brown University - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I took a campus tour on a beautiful Saturday in November 2016 and enjoyed learning about the history of Brown University. I like visiting Ivy League campuses but I felt there wasn't that much to see, although the big blue thingy is pretty impressive! read more

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Nice campus I am a tourist here in the East Coast and just wanted to see one of the Ivy League campuses and the 7th oldest college in the U.S... and where the Brunonians went to school... small and intimate compared to the others we visited. Beautiful surroundings in historic Providence :) Review #0058 read more

Brown University - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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And for my 500th review, one of my favorite places on this planet, my alma mater Brown University. What can I say except this is probably the best school that ever existed. You may think your school is cool but does your school have a class in hieroglyphics? Does it have a book bound in human skin? Does it not make you take gen ed classes because it values learning for the sake of learning? Or does your school let you take classes pass fail because you shouldn't feel the pressure of a grade when you're learning something new? My alma mater has that and more. It has over 100,000 beautiful memories for me during my four years and I've never been to a place which had more amazing people in my life. I was so lucky to call that university home and it will always hold a special place in my heart. read more

This is a review for the campus environment only. We had some spare time between our work meetings and our flight home so we decided to stop by Brown and explore the campus/dining options. The campus is well manicured and has that old, New England charm to it. Brown sits across the river from downtown Providence, and is home to numerous independent coffeehouses and shops. I would come back again to explore the area around the campus. Metered parking is all around, so finding a spot to park is just a matter of luck and timing. While we were driving away we spotted a Kung Fu Tea that we wanted to grab a drink at, but it didn't seem convenient to find a parking space (all the street parking was taken) and the neighboring bank parking had restriction signs posted. Will definitely come back again to explore should we be in Providence. read more

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We walked around the campus for the first time and it was pretty nice some parts and others were just average. I'm comparing it to the likes of Princeton FYI. Brown's campus was more integrated into a small city feel. The students were a mixed bag of nerdy, preppy, dazed, and snotty. For example, I held a door open for a girl and she just stared at me with no "thank you" as she walked by. There are plenty of restaurants nearby mixed from rich to ordinary like chipotle. read more

Brown University - Alumni place - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I have visited Brown University off and on through the years and was an applicant to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. And I have been intrigued by the attention it has gotten as well over the years, most recently for the selection of Ruth Simmons as president (she is leaving very soon). Known since the '60s as the hippest of the Ivy League, with the most flexibility and openness in its curriculum, Brown is also one of the most smallest in the group both in terms of numbers of students and actual campus size. The campus is small, compact, and has many handsome red brick Georgian architecture. The atmosphere is laid-back but studious. I enjoyed spending time at the John D. Rockefeller Library while my sister went to classes. My sister had nothing but praise for the school when she went there. I am disappointed by a relatively recent event, though. Ruth Simmons, its president, made a startling remark to Mike Wallace in his interview of the former. She recounted a slight she experienced from a faculty member at Harvard where she was doing her Ph.D. in Romance languages and literature, her field being17th century French literature. Mike Wallace gave her an incredulous look--raised eyebrows and all--and actually said something like, "17th century French literature? How arcane! Whatever for?" Ms. Simmons was apparently so caught up in her being able to vent her woeful tale of racial discrimination that she did not offer one whit of a defense of her field of graduate studies. 17th century France was the most powerful nation in the world, and French cultural domination is attested by a roll-call of the most celebrated intellects of that era: Pascal, Descartes, Moliere, Corneille, Racine, La Fontaine...this was the era of Louis XIV--le roi soleil--and Versailles and the birth of modern diplomacy. The 17th century without France would be like the 20th century without the United States.* And we today are a lot closer to the 17th century in our outlook, customs, and institutions than we are to the time of Jesus Christ or the gladiators. Granted Americans don't generally know much about world history, but Ms. Simmons's bemused silence vis-a-vis Mr. Wallace was pretty disheartening. In essence, she silently endorsed the prevalent but parochial attitude among our countrymen that world culture and history are primarily American. No need to dig further than Neils Armstrong, Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, or George Washington, do we? Let's hope that Brown's next president (Ms. Simmons is resigning her at the end of the current academic year) will offer a more spirited defense of the humanities, not just Aime Cesare, David Diop, etc. We are built on the shoulders of those who came before us. An education ought to be inclusive. Unfortunately, Brown may offer too much of a "select-what-you-will" (and by extension, "ignore-what-you-will") approach. * * The following century ("Le siecle des lumieres")--but equally unheard of by most Americans-- would bring with it both the Enlightenment and the American and French revolutions. The Enlightenment is the anti-thesis of what George W. Bush (and his co-religionists) stands for, but is impossible to understand without studying the 17th century. read more

Best 4 years of my life. An exceptional school full of exceptional people and professors. Stunning campus with gorgeous colonial architecture throughout. Students are passionate, driven, idealistic and infinitely curious about the world. Bottom line is that very few schools have the camaraderie and sense of community fostered at Brown. If you're lucky enough to get in, this school will change your life and set you on the path to success! read more

Brown University, I give you one star off because I'm still paying you your God-#f!*&^$! money!!!! Luckily the experience of attending you was worth at least 6. True, I was Xtra-Lite on the academics, Xtra-heavy on the social scene, but sheeeyit...... I learned more from my effing brilliant, humility-inducing peers than all my lit-theory-global-justice-drumming-science classes combined. Breeding ground of future mind-mafia, and run by the real (Italian) mafia. Can't pack more character in than that. read more

This will be my new home for the next 4 years. Starting residency at Brown University is by far one of the proudest moments of my career thus far. Of course, Rhode Island hospital is off campus on the other side of town (I make it sound far but really it's only like 5 minutes away). The school sits next to RISD so in addition to the world class departments that they have on campus, they share some of the great art community that RISD has to offer. Campus is probably smallest of the Ivies, but it's nestled in one of the best college towns I have seen. As you walk through the school, you have to walk down Thayer street and see the great restaurants and tiny stores that the area has to offer. Brown as with many of the other Ivies has solid finances because of loyal alumni and generous friends who believe in the mission of the school. Of course, Rhode Island (especially Providence!) has much to offer and it doesn't overwhelm you at all. Who knows? I may be here for the long run! (shhh don't tell California that!) read more

Great campus up on a hill in Providence that looks pretty much like you'd want an Ivy League school to look. There's a big open lawn everyone was hanging out in, a busy coffee shop in the bookstore, trees everywhere, old buildings (and some ugly newer ones) and a few funky streets nearby with bars and restaurants and shops. I had a good time just walking around checking things out. Maybe one of my kids... read more

Beautiful campus, interesting students, outstanding faculty! The campus is most beautiful in the the spring when all the cherry blossoms on the quads are in bloom - it is a magical time of year. read more

My best friend once said to me, "Brown will pretty much let you do whatever you want, but in return you have to let it do whatever it wants sometimes too." This is a great summary of Brown. Although creating your own major is not as easy as they might lead you to believe, it is possible...and it is rare to find at other schools. There is a reason why Brown is always within the top 3 of the happiest schools in the country. It has a beautiful campus, wonderful location, and probably the most caring and passionate faculty that you could ever hope to care for. It's open environment and curriculum is fitting for all kinds of people: both the more free-spirited like me who wanted to take time off, create my own kind of course load and trajectory, and for more conservative people like my boyfriend who used the open curriculum to have two concentrations (what we call majors). But like the quote says, sometimes Brown does what it wants to too. They often do things late or not at all. But if you can handle that and want a place you can make your own, then it may be the place for you. Just be prepared to self-advocate and exist in a world without many rules. And you really can do almost whatever you want, e.g. if you want a class, and technically you're not ready for it, just keep attending it and doing the work and the professors usually let you in. read more

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Happy to be an undergrad student here and can't imagine myself anywhere else. The campus is beautiful with a great location and the open curriculum is brilliant. Brown is extremely unique from other schools. Yes, it's liberal. If you don't like it, don't go here and keep writing cranky reviews about it. read more

My son graduated in May, 2015. He had a terrific experience. A terrific learning environment, steeped in tradition. Beautiful campus, well maintained. Administration was easy to deal with, and the people were very responsive whenever I had questions or concerns. Numerous options for financial assistance. read more

This campus is worth the visit! The mister and I walked around the campus grounds on a beautiful sunny day in the Fall. We walked through the entrance of iron gates into the world of laid back intellectuals. We enjoyed the many scenes of people watching. We saw college bound students taking the campus tours and students reading their books & staring into the eyes of their laptops lounging on the grass. We walked into the neighborhood of Victorian homes and brick-lined sidewalks. Very much like Beacon Hill. We found ourselves on Thayer St., the main street for the intellectuals minds to shop for their essentials for survival at CVS, cheap eats of falafels, curries, and burgers, and their college bookstore. The mister and I enjoyed our stroll as we reminisce of our days at college. We also found Rhode Island School of Design as we walked up and down the hilly tree lined neighborhood A great way to spend the afternoon exploring the college area of Providence. read more

Brown University - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

It's the Brown of the Ivy League. I can't speak to the academics here, but rather the campus. There is some nice architecture with the older buildings, particularly around the main quad, but something about the campus is rather non-descript. The landscaping is very plain and devoid of color. Campus was totally empty on a spring day which seemed odd. The surrounding area has some nice stores and is walking distance from downtown, but to me, the campus lacked life and soul. At least the huge bear statue on the main quad was cool and unique. read more

I went for the pre-college program, so not everything will be accurate. Firstly, the majority of the classes I took were 80% lecture mixed with 20% discussions, depending on the teacher, so if you prefer a place where you can give your opinion... Secondly, the dorms are okay, but not as good as I thought they'd be. There is no A/C and 90% of bathrooms do not have locks on them. Lounges are old and sparsely furnished. Thirdly, one of my professes admitted that this whole thing is a huge money-maker, not exactly what you want to hear, and the campus is not very safe. Boys sneak into girls' dorm at midnight to do who knows what. People smoke walking down the Main Green and near the dorms, disgusting, absolute scum. read more

Spring Gamelan concert was wonderful. players were accomplished on all instruments, the selections showed different regional styles and tempi. A wonderful "matinee" read more

Main grounds only review: Walked around and was semi-impressed but not taken aback as you tend to be at the elite northeastern institutions. Happy we walked through but weren't bowled over. read more

Campus review only: Pretty nice but somewhat over compact campus. It sort of resembles a mini-Harvard. I would rank it somewhere in the middle of the elite so-called "Ivy Plus Group" of campuses (those being the Ivy League, Stanford, Cal Tech, MIT, and the University of Chicago). I would rank it ahead of Penn and MIT but behind Harvard itself and certainly behind the almost overwhelmingly ornate Gothic campuses of Yale, Princeton, and the University of Chicago. I would give it four stars if it were not located in Providence which I am not all that fond of (although it has improved). read more

This university has an amazing library. I always go there to study and have aced many exams thanks to Rockefeller Library's awesome hours and huge space for studying. read more

Brown was fun socially and academically. It doesn't have a core curriculum like most colleges in the country, allowing you to take the courses that you want in order to grow (and spend your money) however you want. It's very liberal and accepting and encourages you to be the same, which makes you a better person. The only thing that sucks about going there is having to interact with the Providence police force. They're racist and corrupt. Other benefits include seeing the best speakers in the country (Ira Glass, Bill Clinton, Spike Lee, et al), watching amazing performances (dancing, singing, and otherwise), and partaking in a social scene personalized to your tastes, whether you're straight, gay, experimental with drugs, anti-drug, etc. read more

Brown is pretty and my sister loves going to school here!

Everyone seemed warm and inviting. The campus is well maintained and clean. Everything seems great, but they don't show you the dorm rooms or eating facilities. Overall, very nice. read more